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(S)UL Tarps

I just purchased two tarps...a MLD 4.4oz hammock tarp they have on closeout and a 7oz golite poncho tarp off of gear swap on BPL. I am excited to try them side by side with my nano 7! Any thoughts on either of them, or feedback on personal experience with them. I am going SUL, so these seem to be good options for me...we'll see

I have an original and 2012 GoLite Poncho Tarp. They both work great! The 2012 is lighter and has more stretch. I've used it on my 11-foot BIAS hammock along the Appalachian Trail during Trail Days. No issues with rain.

Top photo is the 2012 GoLite Poncho with the 11-foot BIAS hammock.
Middle photo is the Grand Trunk Ultralight and the original GoLite Poncho.
Bottom photo shows the Grand Trunk Nano 7 hammock and the old GoLite Poncho Tarp.

One thing that is interesting to me is to see that I'm getting better at pitching a taut ridgeline over the years The middle photo is back in 2008 I believe. Bottom photo is 2009. Top is 2012.

good to see someone with experience using a similar setup to what I will be using. Have you used the tarp as a poncho yet? I debate with myself on whether this makes sense. I would think if it's raining and you are using the poncho, that it would suck to take it off to have to set it up as a tarp and have no rain top if you want to leave your hammock. I don't have any rain experience with hammocking yet, so input would be appreciated

Just for the reasons you mentioned, it is a good idea to have a separate rain top, unless you want to huddle under your tarp or get wet, etc.

On all of my backpacking trips when I bring the poncho and I'm expecting rain, I bring along another rain top. I typically don't bring rain bottoms as I wear shorts during the summer that are very moisture resistant and dry quickly.